Hybrid rooftop turbine gravity ventilator

ABSTRACT

A hybrid rooftop mounted fan assembly made from a turbine rain hat, a motor and propeller and a damper and frame and grill that is specifically designed for installation on the top of roofs of all types of construction. The system generally includes an assembly of a solid rainproof top and vertical blades at an angle to the radius to cause the turbine to rotate when air flows up and out and when wind hits it from the outside. The system is generally comprised of a fan blade on a motor that is centered by mounting brackets. Below the fan is a damper and below that is the frame and cube core grille.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to cooling and ventilation systems forbuilding structures, and more particularly, relates to a hybrid gravityor hot air ventilator that can be installed on the top of any structurethat needs ventilation through the roof.

2. Description of Prior Art

Gravity ventilators have been traditionally made with a rain proof topthat has sides that require the air to go down before it can go up. Thisrestricts the air flow and reduces the amount of air that can be vented.There has never been a hybrid with a motor and blade and vertical bladeturbine top. There have been motor and blade fans and there have beengravity ventilators.

It is thus the object of present invention to provide a rain proofturbine design which will overcome the disadvantages of the prior artsystems.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionprovides a hybrid gravity and hot air ventilation system that combinesboth rain proofing and high air flow performance. This system comprisesof a turbine rain hat rotating on a central shaft that is mounted on athree or four legged base. The system has a fan blade on a motor that iscentered by mounting brackets. Inside the top turbine hat is an assemblythat includes two sealed ball bearings spaced vertically to ensurerigidity and a needle thrust bearing at the top of the shaft to reducefriction as the top rotates on the bottom support and shaft. This allowsit to rotate when air flows through it. The turbine blades are at anangle to the air flow for the purpose of causing the turbine to turnwith the air flow or with wind so that rain cannot enter the interior.

Hybrid is taken from the auto world, where a car can run on battery forfree (if the charging was solar) or fossil fuel at a cost. In fans itmeans air flows from the force of gravity and wind for free or fromelectricity at a cost.

The current invention is more efficient, effective and functional thanthe current art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred formof this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a hybrid rooftop ventilation system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

There are a number of significant design features and improvementsincorporated within the invention.

The current invention is directed to a hybrid rooftop mounted wholehouse fan system 100. The house fan system 100 provides a gravity andhot air ventilation system that combines both rain proofing and high airflow performance. Hybrid is taken from the auto world, where a car canrun on battery for free (if the charging was solar) or fossil fuel at acost. In fans it means air flows from the force of gravity and wind forfree or from electricity at a cost.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a rooftop mounted whole house fansystem 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 generally comprises of a fan blade106 on a motor 110 that is centered by mounting brackets 108. Below thefan is the damper 120 and below that is the frame 114 and cube coregrille 112.

On top of the fan is the turbine rain hat 102 with a ball bearingassembly 116 attached in the center. Below that is the mounting assembly118 that has a shaft 122 in the center that slips into the ball bearingsin the top.

The turbine rain hat 102 rotates on the shaft 122 that is mounted on athree or four legged base. Inside the top turbine hat 102 is the ballbearing assembly 118 that includes as least two sealed ball bearingsspaced vertically to ensure rigidity and a needle thrust bearing at thetop of the shaft to reduce friction as the top rotates on the bottomsupport and shaft. This allows it to rotate when air flows through it.The turbine blades 106 are at an angle to the air flow for the purposeof causing the system 100 to turn with the air flow or with wind so thatrain cannot enter the interior.

One such application is as a whole house fan.

While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown withreference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or reorderedto form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of theembodiments. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, theorder and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the embodiments.Furthermore, methods and mechanisms of the embodiments will sometimes bedescribed in singular form for clarity. However, some embodiments mayinclude multiple iterations of a method or multiple variations of amechanism unless noted otherwise. For example, when a connection isdisclosed in one embodiment, the scope of the embodiment is intended toalso cover the use of multiple connections.

Certain features of the embodiments, which may have been, for clarity,described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be providedin various combinations in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the embodiments, which may have been, for brevity, describedin the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separatelyor in any suitable sub-combination. Embodiments described in conjunctionwith specific examples are presented by way of example, and notlimitation. Moreover, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized andstructural changes may be made without departing from the scope of theembodiments.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A rooftop ventilation system comprising: Afan with multiple blades and a motor and brackets to center the motorand a damper to prevent air from moving through when the motor is offwith a frame and grille to cover the bottom of the damper.
 2. A rooftopventilation system according to claim 1 further comprising; Having a topwith a turbine assembly that rotates on ball bearings with a shaft.
 3. Arooftop ventilation system according to claim 2 further comprising;Where the shaft can be removed for shipping.
 4. A rooftop ventilationsystem according to claim 1 further comprising; Having a turbine rainhat.
 5. A rooftop ventilation system according to claim 1 furthercomprising; Where the fan blades are angled.
 6. A rooftop ventilationsystem according to claim 1 further comprising; Where the motor iscentered by mounting brackets.
 7. A rooftop ventilation system accordingto claim 1 further comprising; Having the damper below the fan.
 8. Arooftop ventilation system according to claim 7 further comprising;Having the frame and cube core grille be below the damper.
 9. A rooftopventilation system according to claim 1 further comprising; Having aturbine rain hat with a ball bearing assembly attached in the center.10. A rooftop ventilation system according to claim 9 furthercomprising; Having the ball bearing assembly have a shaft in the centerthat slips into the ball bearings.
 11. A rooftop ventilation systemaccording to claim 10 further comprising; Having the turbine rain hatrotate on the shaft.
 12. A rooftop ventilation system according to claim11 further comprising; Having the shaft mounted on a base.
 13. A rooftopventilation system comprising: A fan with multiple blades where theblades are angled and a motor and brackets to center the motor and adamper to prevent air from moving through when the motor is off with aframe and grille to cover the bottom of the damper, having a top with aturbine assembly that rotates on ball bearings with a shaft.
 14. Arooftop ventilation system according to claim 13 further comprising;Having the shaft be removable.
 15. A rooftop ventilation systemaccording to claim 13 further comprising; Where the motor is centered bymounting brackets.
 16. A rooftop ventilation system according to claim13 further comprising; Having the damper below the fan and having theframe and cube core grille be below the damper.
 17. A rooftopventilation system according to claim 13 further comprising; Having aturbine rain hat with a ball bearing assembly with a shaft in the centerthat slips into the ball bearings.
 18. A rooftop ventilation systemaccording to claim 17 further comprising; Having the turbine rain hatrotate on the shaft.
 19. A rooftop ventilation system according to claim18 further comprising; Having the shaft mounted on a base.
 20. A rooftopventilation system according to claim 19 further comprising; Having thebase have a plurality of legs.